Table of Contents
Introduction
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit their doctor. It’s also one of the most frustrating conditions because it can be debilitating and difficult to treat. If you’re suffering from back pain, you may be wondering if there are any home remedies that can help you get better faster. The good news is that although many Americans suffer from back pain, it’s typically not a serious condition and can be resolved with home remedies such as exercise and massage therapy. In this article, we’ll talk about some simple but effective back pain remedies that you can try at home before going to the doctor.
Cold therapy.
Cold therapy is a great way to get relief from back pain. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases recommends using cold packs, ice or gel packs on the painful area for 15-20 minutes every few hours as needed. This can be a great way to soothe muscle tightness caused by an injury or strain.
Hot therapy works similarly, but it’s best used when you have a fever or cold instead of pain in your back (remember: heat causes blood vessels to expand). Heat may also help relax the muscles in your back that are causing you distress, making it easier for them to rest and heal properly.
Heat therapy.
Heat therapy is a safe and effective way to ease back pain. Heat can help relax muscles, reduce inflammation and muscle spasms, and open up tight tendons and ligaments.
- Heat is often used to treat the low back during pregnancy because it can help relieve pain and stiffness. It can also speed up recovery after recent injury or surgery by reducing swelling around your spine.
- To use heat therapy at home: Place a heating pad on your lower back region while lying down on your stomach with pillows placed under your knees (depending on how long you want this treatment to last).
Hot and cold shower.
A hot and cold shower is another great way to relieve back pain. It’s helpful because it stimulates the blood vessels, which increases circulation and warms up your muscles. Try this simple exercise:
- Get into a hot shower for two minutes or so, then step out of the water and go directly into a cold shower for 30 seconds to one minute (depending on how much you want to feel refreshed).
- Repeat once more, ending with cold water again (you should be feeling tingly now!).
- Finish off by stepping back into the warm water for two additional minutes! This method is recommended as an effective treatment for acute lower back pain as well as chronic lower back pain.
Epsom salt bath.
Epsom salt is a natural mineral compound that can help relieve muscle aches and pains. It can also help relieve the pain associated with arthritis and other joint problems.
Epsom salt baths are easy to make, but you’ll want to start by adding 1 cup of Epsom salts for every 2 gallons of water in your tub. Let the water run for a few minutes after filling up your tub before getting in so that it has time to heat up enough for you to enjoy it comfortably!
Seated forward bend.
The seated forward bend is a great pose for those who have pain in their low back, but can also be beneficial for other parts of the body. This pose stretches your hamstrings and calves, as well as opening up your hips and shoulders.
To perform this pose, sit on the floor with both legs extended straight out in front of you. Bend one leg so that it’s at a 90-degree angle from your torso and place your foot flat on the floor with your heel pressed into it. Place your hands on either side of that bent knee for balance if you need to (you may find that holding onto something like a bed post or chair works best). Now slowly sit back until you feel a stretch along the backs of both thighs; keep both knees bent here if needed instead of going all the way down until they touch the ground. Hold this position for 10-30 seconds before switching sides: repeat this process 2-3 times per side.
Cat and cow poses.
- Get on your hands and knees with your hands directly below your shoulders and knees below hip level. Make sure that the tops of your feet are touching the floor.
- Inhale to prepare for cat pose, then exhale as you round your spine toward the ceiling and press into Cat Pose (also known as Cat Cow). Your head will fall slightly forward as you round out of Cat Pose into Cow Pose, giving yourself a great neck stretch in both directions!
- Repeat this motion several times until you feel a slight pull in either direction—this will help release tension in the muscles around your spine and allow them to relax more deeply into their natural position, which is why we do these poses so often!
Child’s pose.
Child’s pose is a relaxing stretch that can help relieve tension and stress. You’ll want to do this one at home after a long day, so make sure to try it while you’re alone. Child’s pose involves lying on your stomach with your forehead resting on the floor and arms stretched out in front of you. The goal is for the hips and thighs to be parallel with the ground as well as for the spine to remain straight throughout this pose. If this doesn’t feel comfortable for your lower back, try bending your knees slightly until they reach 90-degree angles from each other (this will allow more space in between them).
Other simple but effective stretches for back pain.
- Don’t push too hard. The key to stretching for back pain is to go only as far as you can without pain or discomfort. If your muscles feel warm, even a little bit, then you’re most likely ready to stretch more.
- Don’t overdo it. When you’re feeling better from a good stretch session, don’t overdo by doing too many repetitions or holding the position for too long; this may actually make things worse in the long run!
- Don’t push into pain. Pushing through mild to moderate pain during stretches can lead to injury; however, some people find that they need just a little bit of discomfort in order to feel like they’re making any progress at all when it comes time for their daily routine!
- Avoid stretching cold muscles and don’t stretch immediately after exercise (or ever really). Doing either of these things will put undue strain on your body parts which could exacerbate existing issues such as tightness or spasms if performed incorrectly–so save those stretches until later!
Back pain is often a temporary problem that can be resolved in a few days with home remedies, but if it’s severe, you should consult your doctor.
The first step to treating back pain is to identify whether it’s acute or chronic. Acute back pain means that you have experienced an injury or trauma, whereas chronic back pain means that you have been experiencing long-term discomfort for six months or more. If your pain is severe and/or accompanied by numbness in the legs, fever and chills, vomiting or other serious symptoms (such as kidney failure), get medical help right away.
If you’re dealing with a less severe case of acute back pain—that is, if your symptoms are milder—you can try some of these natural remedies:
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found this resource helpful for managing your back pain. Remember that consistent relief is often found through an effective combination of strategies, so don’t just try one and give up on it if it doesn’t work right away. We know how frustrating it can be to find a solution that doesn’t stick; this is especially true when dealing with chronic pain. Also remember that while some methods may not work for you, they might be worth trying again after a few months or even years have passed. If you still suffer from chronic back pain despite using these home remedies routinely, then visit your doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions such as osteoporosis or spinal stenosis.